HISTORY
Hastings
In years past summer carnivals were a highlight of the season, parading through streets packed with inquisitive spectators, as Lindsey Tydeman from The Keep explains, looking back to the Hastings Carnival of 1962
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t’s scarves, hats and coats all round on this chilly, July 1962 carnival day in Hastings. You can’t help feeling sorry for the beauty queens who are braving it out on their carnival float. These photographs
show us how town carnivals used to be celebrated, although memories of them probably lie entirely in the minds of the over-fifties. All kinds of floats on lorries, sponsored by local businesses and charities, and featuring long-suffering members of staff in fancy dress and make-up – men often in drag – would parade through the town, before gathering in the biggest park to be awarded prizes. In these pictures it looks as though the awards have already been made, as we can see some of the floats with ‘highly commended’ signs. The event was highly anticipated, especially by children who were mesmerised by seeing so many fantasy worlds go by
at once. In our pictures the roads and balconies are crammed with spectators, with the children pushed to the front or sitting on the brick wall behind. One lorry features four individuals who seem to be wrapped in tin foil – unfortunately we can’t see what they’re
The roads and balconies are crammed with spectators meant to represent. Behind them is a Boys Brigade marching band and behind the band is a peep at imperial Rome. On the veiled chariot stands Caesar in his golden crown, as plotting
106 SUSSEX LIVING | May 2022
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